We're Fans: Fracture

You have to go way back into the TWB archives to find the first time we talked about Fracture. Remember Fracture? It's a frameless way to showcase your favorite photos as the images are printed right on smooth glass.

I just received my first, but surely not my last, order from Fracture. Love it!

We're Fans: Uptown Artworks

I discovered Uptown Artworks when I was doing a bit of holiday shopping a couple months back on One Kings Lane. One customizable item in the shop's pet themed pillow collection was the perfect gift for someone on my list, and the quality of the finished piece when it arrived at my door was beyond what I had expected.

This isn't the one I purchased, but it's similar in style.



But Uptown Artworks isn't just about your four-legged friends. Alot of their pieces could be flawlessly incorporated into your wedding. In fact, they have a pretty large selection of options when it comes to ring bearer pillows. Just take a look at some of the options. From favorite quotes to your wedding date to meaningful locations, you can have it all put on a pillow.





The shop has home accessories that would make for great gifts for newlyweds (or for yourself), too. Destination wall art (I had to include the Connecticut one, obviously), zip code pillows, and custom family wall art are just a few of my favorites below.







Isn't it easy to see why we're fans of Uptown Artworks?

We're Fans: MUJI

I was watching a random home makeover show on HGTV a couple weeks ago (honestly, it's hard to keep them straight sometimes) and the episode included a trip to a store called MUJI in New York City. I'd never heard of the store before, but I liked what I saw.

At its core, MUJI is all about the minimalistic design and packaging of its products. What are those products? It's what I'd call a hodge-podge: housewares, furniture, organizational supplies, and even some clothing thrown in there. But I've pulled a few things that I thought could be useful for weddings and parties and those are below.

Cottom My Bag - perfect size for hotel welcome bags or party gift totes.





Origami Folding Paper - for all of those DIY projects you've planned on getting around to, like these place cards or this garland.





Empire State Building stamp - if you're looking for some NYC skyline additions to invitations, cards, etc.





City Stencil Set - could be fun if you're going for a travel theme and have kids involved in the event.




If you are in the NYC area, or have a chance to hop online, check out MUJI and see what my HGTV-inspired find is all about.

We're Fans: Ant Design Gifts

Wouldn't these papercut phrases from Ant Design Gifts make for great little pieces of art in your living room or office? I spotted these the other day in their Etsy shop, but the UK-based outfit also has an online store that is filled with these and many other designs.












There is such a wide selection of papercuts to choose from that you're sure to find one that would make for a perfect gift for a bridal shower, birthday, or housewarming gift. Plus, you can choose to get your selections further personalized with specific names or dates.

We're Fans: Plates With Purpose

Is anyone out in TWB-land interested in buying dinnerware that is smartly designed and philanthropically minded, too? Yeah, we thought so.

Plates With Purpose is where you should head to see nine different series of recycled-glass plates, each designed around a different symbol. Each plate collection is, in turn, tied to a different non-profit. And, 15% of each sale gets donated directly to that plate's particular organization. Keep scrolling to see a small sampling of what Plates With Purpose has in their online store.





The 13" square heart plate, with proceeds benefiting Habitat for Humanity of Greater Pittsburgh. This design is a nod to love/romance/marriage without being all ooey-gooey. Would make for a lovely engagement gift, right?





The 5"x10" tree plate, with proceeds benefiting the National Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Association. Sort of reminds us of The Giving Tree, which brings everyone back to the days of our youth. Sigh.





The 9" square pineapple plate, with proceeds benefiting Family House. Methinks this one would make for a great housewarming or hostess gift if you were heading down to Charleston. Pineapples are serious business down there.

We're Fans: Elemental Threads

If you’ve been paying attention, you know that we like customizable choices when it comes to our handbags. So of course we were mesmerized by Elemental Thread’s online store, where you not only have a large selection of bag shapes and sizes to choose from, but you’re also presented with the oh-so-difficult decision of picking out just the right fabric to adorn your new piece of arm candy. Cotton? Canvas? Tweed? You decide.

Would your bridesmaids be overjoyed to get an Elemental Threads piece that you designed with them in mind? We’re betting yes.

But wait! Elemental Threads doesn’t stop there. Through their eThreads rePurpose program, you can actually send in a tshirt of your very own (you know, the one that you should’ve trashed years ago but hold onto for sentimental reasons) and they will turn that into a bag.

Wouldn’t it be awesome if you took a shirt of each of your ‘maid's alma maters and had Elemental Threads whip them into gifts? Or you can go with favorite sports teams, cities, or musical groups. If you have a tshirt now…you can have a bag in just a few weeks. That's some very fashionable recycling, now isn't it?

We're Fans: Eclu

Remember a while back when I hinted at the gifts I had gotten for my bridesmaids? Well now that I actually gave the BM’s their presents, I thought it was only fitting to publicly gush over them here.

Jami is the woman behind Eclu, the shop where you can mix and match colors and patterns to create a custom clutch all your own. This was especially appealing to me since I have eight bridesmaids plus a maid of honor to bestow gifts upon, and I wanted each one to receive something uniquely “them.” So I mixed it up by choosing the peony and the bow design in a variety of colors (no repeats!) and changed up the interior patterns, too. But if you wanted to get a matching clutch for each member of your bridal party to use the day of your wedding, you could certainly go that route, too.

Probably the coolest feature that Eclu offers is the inclusion of a small message on the inside of the clutches for a small additional charge. I went for a bit of humor when writing something to each of the girls, but you could opt for a more heartfelt message. Either way it's a nice little surprise when the girls open their clutches the first time, and every time after that.

Bridal bonus: I picked up a clutch for myself and opted for only the wedding date to be stitched on the inside of mine. It has a larger sash tied into a bow on it so it’s a totally different style than what I gifted, and it’s also ivory as opposed to black. So it definitely goes with the girls’ clutches but stands out enough to belong to the bride.

It’s also worth mentioning that the ordering process was a breeze, despite my laundry list of “special instructions” to the seller. Oh, and each clutch comes in its own muslin drawstring bag, which many of my ‘maids mentioned is a nice touch.

Not in the market for a clutch? Eclu also has shoe clips, hair pins, and sashes for your perusal.

Pocket Full of Posies

Not to jinx it, but around our parts, it feels like spring may finally be on the way.  This time of year it's nice to have something cheerful and bright as a reminder of longer, warmer days. 

These posy vases by Kate Spade are such a cute addition to a registry.  Since the vases are tiny, they only need a few small blooms.  They're also pretty enough to hold their own sitting empty on a bathroom vanity or dresser. 

We're Fans: Megan Hamilton Weddings

Any other fans of the Isaac Mizrahi cable show from back in the day?  Remember when he would give fashion advice to an audience member and hand over a freshly drawn sketch of how to wear a particular article of clothing? 

Unless you have friends in way higher places than we do, you're probably not going to get Isaac (or any other designer) to produce a custom sketch of your wedding gown.  Who needs a designer when Megan Hamilton has an Etsy shop where you can get a custom sketch for under $100?  Just send her photos of your dress, and she'll send back an 11" x 14" hand drawn ink sketch on acid free paper in a few weeks. 

Bold Loft His and Hers Mugs

Starting the day with a cup of coffee together is a morning ritual for many couples.   This adorable series over at Bold Loft is the perfect way to start a new tradition.



These are just a few of the fifteen designs available, all in the signature black and white stick figures with red accents design.  This would be a great gift with a pound of a beans and a new coffeemaker from the couple's registry. 

We're Fans: Songbird and Twig

We've waxed poetic a bunch of times before about our love for Etsy.  It seems like every time we click our way over there, we find something cute, crafty, and one of a kind.  Our latest discovery, Songbird and Twig, is no exception. 

Robin designs miniature replicas of historic southern churches as ceramic ornaments.  The tiny works of art are created by hand in her very own basement. 

If you're anything like us, it hasn't been to long since you packed away the holiday decorations.  We almost waited to share this find since it's not exactly seasonal.  Then we realized that they would make a thoughtful shower or wedding gift any time of year.

Two Web Belles: Sapphire (Maybe we should say Royal Blue)

The union of Prince William and Kate Middleton this spring will undoubtedly have a major impact on wedding trends for years to come. We're just as excited as the rest of the world to see what (who) she'll be wearing and hope that some of the pretty details are released. Even though the big day isn't until April, we think that Kate and Will's trendsetting ways started the moment he slipped on that blue beauty and made it official. 

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Honeysuckle may be the color of the year, but brides around the world will be embracing saturated sapphire blue in 2011.

Diamonds became the go-to engagement ring choice in the 20th century, but they aren't the only option. There are tons of gorgeous sapphire rings, but like the royals, we like something in a statement size with diamond accents. If you want to rock an alternative gemstone, but not on your left hand, maybe you should start dropping hints to your groom now for these diamond halo sapphire studs.

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Have your bridesmaids join the party in universally flattering cobalt. Most of the big dress outposts offer a royal blue option, but don't forget to check out your favorite stores for cocktail dresses that the girls will be happy to don long after they do their aisle duty.

Jacquard Party Dress

BCBG One-Shoulder Sheath Dress

Looking for a "something blue" shoe? These d'Orsay pumps by Manolo Blahnik are something special.

Manolo Blahnik "Clausado"

If you love deep, rich blue, but weren't able to work it in to your wedding decor, think about incorporating some sapphire choices on your registry. The classic color that will stand the test of time in your home, and work with lots of decor styles. Bright, pretty appliances are like accessories for your kitchen.

KitchenAid Stand Mixer in Cobalt

Martha Stewart Tea Kettle

Le Crueset French Oven

Mina Tablecloth



Two Web Belles: Hot Chocolate

1. Having a meal at Max Brenner is like eating at Willy Wonka's dinner table. Everything has chocolate in it, from the entrées to the drinks to, of course, the decadent desserts. With only a handful of locations in the US and the world, you may not have one nearby. (Note: Philly peeps you're in luck since there is one right in Center City!) But everyone can head on over to their online store, which offers enough chocolate treats to make an Oompa Loompa jump for joy. Below are a few of our handpicked faves, perfect for favors or gifts or just for fun. From top to bottom: bonbons, kangaroo cup, soap, hug mug.





2. Who needs crystal flutes when you can cozy up and toast with a coordinating pair of chocolate brown and cream conversation mugs? A warm frothy drink with the potential for foam mustache photos is a bonus, but not a requirement.






3. Are we the only ones who have been inundated with commercials for chocolate diamonds lately? Yes? No? We can't decide if these are a great buy for the choco-holic deep inside you, or an easy one to pass up since it lacks the sparkle of a regular ol' rock. What do you think? We also found these chocolate pearls, which might just satisfy you're choco jewelry craving (if one should exist) without compromising the diamond purist in you.







4. There's nothing like a traditional white wedding cake, unless of course you opt for a chocolate showstopper like the one below, dubbed "The Megeve" after a Swiss ski resort. According to Martha, it has disks of vanilla meringue layered with chocolate mousse,covered in a thick layer of dark chocolate curls and a dusting of powdered sugar. We could do serious damage given some alone time with The Megeve and a fork.

5. Most brides indulge in a little pampering with their bridal party, mom, or sisters in the days leading up to the wedding. Why not spring for an upgrade from your local nail salon with spa services at Hotel Hershey? Chocolatetown is well within day trip distance of Philly and DC, and the chocolate spa menu is worth a few hours in the car.